"It Was Just an Empty Net Goal."

I'm sorry, Random Sioux Fan At Joe Senser's, but you just don't understand.

Forgive me, those of you who come here for silliness, but I have to get a little emotional here.

It wasn't just an empty net goal. It sealed the win for us. It was revenge for the Frozen Four in 2004. It put an end to Denver's season and their run at a three-peat, just like we did to the Gophers in 2004. It was no Miracle On Ice, but it was a small miracle nonetheless.

The Kirby Puckett memorial ceremony at the Metrodome was playing on many of the big screen TVs and the audio was on the PA system, but we were straining to hear the Bulldogs game, while keeping an eye on the Sioux-Mankato game. When Denver went up 1-0, it was deja vu all over again.

The more things stay the same, the more they change. The 'Dogs haven't been too successful with the 2 man advantage, and so I expected nothing. With 10 seconds to go in the first penalty, Tim Stapleton put one in the net. Still on the power play, Josh Meyers scored again 70 seconds later. Half a minute after, Gergy scored on an amazing pass from Stapleton. Then Garrison unleashed the beast into the back of the net, from the point, 2 minutes and 5 seconds later. 4 goals in 3 minutes, 45 seconds.

In the third period, Denver played hard, but the 'Dogs were there to answer almost every move they made. It was list watching a completely different team. Suddenly, they were in position, they knew exactly where the puck went, if one person made a mistake, another one stepped in to regain position, take away the angle, or block the shot. Denver scored on a 5 on 5 with the extra attacker, with just under 5 minutes to go in the game. They again went to the empty net with four minutes to go, and it felt like time slowed down. There was a whistle ever five seconds or so. We were out of our seats with anxiety. It seemed like the clock read :56 for 56 minutes. Then, with 29 seconds left in the game, Andrew Carroll put the puck in the empty net. Every Bulldog fan in the place was screaming, cheering, high-fiving, going crazy.

It was a wonderful game, a wonderful night. The snow fell in a soft rush outside, and inside, I was enjoying the best moments of hockey this year, the best moments of hockey I've experienced in the past year or so, with my friends (new and old), my boyfriend, and my dad, who taught me to love the Bulldogs in the first place.

It wasn't just an empty net goal.